From our Pastor’s Desk

Dear Family:

The time after Jesus’ resurrection consisted of days of anguish as well as joy, during which the Apostles had to resume their ordinary work. Life had to go on! They had families to feed and support! So, for many of them, it was back to fishing on the Lake of Galilee. It was there that today’s Gospel story of seven disciples, led by St. Peter, took place. The scene began at night, considered the best time for fishing. The boat would glide smoothly over the lake, torch blazing; the men would stare into the water until they saw a school of fish, and then, quick as lighting, skillfully throw their net or spear. Often, though, the tried fishermen would return to the dock in the morning with nothing to show for their work.

In today’s story, something in the modus operandi of the man standing on the shore caused St. John to recognize the risen Lord. That was not as easy as it may sound. Jesus’ body was the resurrected one, not the resuscitated one. His appearance was different from when they had known him before. When John pointed out Jesus’ identity, Peter became impatient with the slow-moving boat. He could not wait to tie his loose tunic. For a Jew of that time, to offer a greeting was, after all, a religious act, and for it, a man must be properly clothed. Though the other disciples came quickly in the boat, it was Peter who assumed the lead. He was beginning to grow into becoming a “rock”.

On shore, the fire, the fish, and the bread were another surprise. Because of the heavenly glory that was now Christ’s, his presence gave a solemnity to the scene. Nevertheless, the Apostles took the time to abide by their routine of counting their fish, the usual purpose of which was to divide the catch equitably. To show the universality of the Church was, in fact, one of John’s purposes in writing this chapter of his Gospel. The other was to show again the reality of Jesus’ resurrection to insist that the Risen Christ was not a hallucination or a spirit, but a real person. A hallucination or a spirit was not likely to kindle a fire on a seashore or to cook a meal and share in eating it. The words John used for the meal Jesus took the bread and gave it to them allude to the Eucharist.

After the meal, the scene changed to Jesus’ dialog with Peter. He began by asking Peter three times whether Peter loved him. Not only is that a central question of every Christian’s life; Jesus’ followers are to be led by love and Jesus’ presence is recognizable only by love. Peter was full of sadness and confusion. Perhaps we recognize something of ourselves in the story of the Apostle Peter. In many ways, he is just like us. He was so simple, and yet so complex! When life got perplexing and too much for him, his strategy was direct, with his simple announcement, “I am going fishing.” He was aware that he had often left much to be desired but he had potential. Peter’s potential was the reason for Jesus’ asking him to be the leader of the Church.

Nonetheless, in today’s reading, Peter seems insensitive. When he met Jesus met him after having denied him he acted as if nothing significant had happened. As if nothing required comment or apology, he quickly ate his breakfast. But next to this charcoal fire on which fish had been cooked, perhaps he was thinking of that other fire that charcoal fire at which he warmed himself during Jesus’ trial, warmed himself while he denied Jesus. But Peter would no longer dare to say anything that would put him above the rest no bold claims, no rash promises. He could not even answer with the same word for “love” that Jesus used. Jesus’ word agape in the Greek of John’s Gospel involved sacrifice, and Peter remembered that, after his previous grandiose promise to lay down his life for Jesus, he had denied Jesus three times. So, unsure of whether he was capable of that highest kind of love, he answered by affirming, again in the Gospel’s original Greek, phileo, a love of feeling, of sentiment, of affection, and of attachment. Of those he was sure.

Upon Peter’s reply, the consequences of true love followed responsibility and sacrifice. Jesus indicated Peter’s responsibility by directing him to “feed my lambs” and “feed my sheep.” He was making Peter his great shepherd. Then, there was a sacrifice. In Peter’s case, Jesus predicted that Peter’s love would involve the greatest sacrifice of all his life. Then Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.” Jesus’ work was finished. And Peter could truly “follow” the Lord fully. Peter was not capable, like John, of lofty writings that soared like an eagle or, like Paul able to travel to the ends of the known world for Christ – but his determination to follow the Lord and to lead the Apostles enabled him to be the first head of the Church.

The response of Peter and the Apostles showed them for what they were men of courage, no longer aiming at “playing it safe”; men of principle, putting obedience to God’s word before everything else; and men with a clear idea of their duty, which was to be witnesses of Christ in front of the world. Peter’s response must always be ours. Better for us to obey God rather than people! The apostle left the Sanhedrin “full of joy”. Joy is the one unfailing sign of the Spirit’s presence, and the greatest sentiment of this Easter season. Here the Apostles were full of joy because they had an opportunity to share in Christ’s suffering.

For us, as for Peter, recognition of Jesus often comes slowly, sometimes in and through contact with others. We have all, like Peter and the other Apostles, responded in love. That often involves self-sacrifice and perhaps suffering. Our modern opponents have discovered that killing people makes memorable martyrs of them, so the tactic of our day is condescending ridicule the deception that the Church looks silly, unrealistic, decadent, and completely unworthy of the belief of a reasonable person. We should accept that suffering not in despair and self-pity, but “full of joy”. Jesus’ resurrection shows that through suffering and death one can achieve triumph.

This basic principle of the Christian life is conveyed by the Apostles’ joy at suffering for Jesus’ sake (today’s First Reading), by John the Evangelist’s comment on Jesus’ word to Peter about his death (Gospel) and by the vision of the victorious Lamb that was slain (Second Reading). As in all these images, we are to be sensitive to coming to recognize his presence in family, friendships, community, and work. His resurrected presence make us One Body, One Spirit, One Family!

Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Katharine Drexel, Saint Michael the Archangel, Pope Saint Pius X, St. Charbel and St. José Gregorio Hernández, pray for us.

Yours in Christ Jesus!
Fr. Omar